What is in this box? OOOps, some old friends! Good for Stargrave populations

 In prep for a service call on our furnace, I was moving stuff and came upon two ten gallon storage boxes. 

In the first one, fortress pieces for a Vauban siege, ctc. On opening the second box, I was greeted by a wave of figures that just made Stargrave even more fun.

 

 Apologies for the cuteness of the captions. Just so delighted to find what was lost.

 

Definitely colorful enough for asteroids.

Horns, horns,horns.

Yes, these will do!

Heavies.

So cute.

So bouncy and yet toothsome.

My very first attempt at a sculpt.

 

 So special.

 

 

 

I painted something new- October version

 Well, it had to happen, finally another unit of Swedes, the second battalion of the Skaraborg Regiment from the Army of the North's Swedish Corps.   Resplendent in the grey cloth and blue facings as was their lot, The contingent is one unit closer to completeness (although some seven battalions are left to be completed.

The unit also adds to the page devoted to the 1813 Swedish Army collection, some work has been done in the last six months, if you have any curiosity on the progress.

Way in the background is the Austrian fast battery limber. 

Fuddland's Adventure

The Adventure started with this:

Gentle readers, you may wonder what all the fuss is about.  It starts here.

 The Excorcistski Estates

Polish Province

20 September 1802

To his most benevolent Excellency, Czar Elmer, ruler of all the Fudds.

My Czar,

I am writing to inform you that after lengthy discussions with the Brigades Priest, and hearing multiple reports from the Peasantry regarding the local leadership of Dahra participating in vile, heretical, acts of witchcraft and demon worship I am taking a force into Dahara.   Being an Officer of conscience and faith, I am ordering the Polish Brigade (to include q horse battery) along with 4 Regiments of Peasant volunteers, (that I have equipped at my own expense), plus 2 Regiments of local Cossack volunteers, as well as  the Brigade Priest supplemented with additional Priest skilled in the art of exorcism sent from the Church to assist in this investigation, into Dahra.  By the time your Excellency receives this missive, the above fact finding force will be moving  into Dahara at 18B24 with the intent of seeking out these witches reported to be practicing their vile craft in the Village located there. 

I confess that I am doing this under my own initiative and without any consultation with your Excellency.  I realize this is akin to treason by not seeking your permission first.  I will present myself to you for punishment as you deem fit upon our return.  However, I ask that if we find proof of this heretical activity, your greatness will take that into consideration when determining punishment.

I further state that I take this action on my own initiative.  The Officers and Troops under my command are simply following the orders of their superior officer as any good solider should, and I plead that you not take your wrath at me out on them upon our return. 

I remain always your most loyal servant, but I have a higher obligation to follow my faith.

Sincerely,

Colonel Exorcistski

 

From the Daharan border 

near map reference 20A21 

 Greetings to your Excellency, 

In some measure of apology for overstepping my position, I report the first glorious successes of our punitive raid upon the unholy so called 'Prophets of the Light' in the southern seacoast province in Dahara. 

Utilizing the quick sketching talents of the regimental artist, this series of vignettes shows the head of the column making its way over the wooden border bridge on the way to the Wyndmere village cluster.

We actually crossed at 20A21.  It was closer to my estates.  This will have little to no effect on the mission, the country is lousy with these heretical ministers!  So far we have recovered over 500 ounces of silver and 50 ounces of gold form the 'monastic' centers of heresy.  These treasures are being sent to the provincial capital for the Royal Assessors and Collectors of the Holy See to direct as fitting.

Yours in Service,

Col. Excorcistski

Here is the column commander, Col. Exorcistski, directing the troops.

It is said that the Colonel raced across the bridge to be the first Fuddlander  across. 

"The column is shown in good order and well supplied.  The force is to collect heretics, not to antagonize the local peasants," Monseigneur D'Arbitrage   (attached to column.)

The high spirits reflected in the opening of a campaign.

 

 The column consists of regulars, Cossacks, and militia from the Colonel's own estates.  Pictures of the contingent from the church are to be presented at a later date.

Just a note

 Apologies to all you for the lack of posts on this blog and comments on others.  A combination of domestic administration, a new player in the imagination campaign and a cold that's not going away have eaten all  my energy.

Barry's incursion into Dahara 's coastal is interesting . Denying Royal responsibility for the column leads me to think of a self contained expedition.  The make up of the Colonel's character is most important.  

So, I will do some character set up and watch the game unfold. 

 

this just in.....I have tested positive for covid. Tired & runny nose the only symptoms so far.  

Oh well, hoist the flag and set sail for 5 days of painting.

New Banner for Study door!

Dahara invaded, incursion from Fuddland

 

The continent apeard to holidA  column from Fuddland marched into southern Dahara in the last week of September.  Reports, mostly from foreign correspondents attached to the force, and some itinerant gypsies and cross border traders indicate the troops sent out from the column are spoiling for a fight with Daharan clergy led forces. The southernmost village has been occupied, and indications are that the march is continuing.

 

The leader of the troops from Fuddland, Colonel Exorcistie ,  claims the Daharan clergy are war criminals and demands the release of people turned in for various religious infractions.

Map showing southern coastal area , village of Wynward in 20A16 is the column's first stop.

Imagnation campaign update--new player added as James Fisher 'takes over' Bayerische

 The 'blog-o-spheres' own James Fisher will take the reins of the imagination of Bayerne. As Kur-Furst James, he is not only ruler of Bayerische, he is a an Elector of the Empire. 

The ruler of the country has has a record of personal rebellion on matters of alliance duties, the most famous was the recent shutting down his borders and lack of help to the Empire Army as called for in his duties of Elector.

Political Map Bayerische and Orbajosa

Political map of Northern tier of countries.

Photos of the ruler and other falderoll to come. Long live Kur-Furst James!

I painted someting- September edition

Tuesday, finishing up some terrain from Green Stuff World.

 Just some Army Painter fast paints, gotta lov'em. All three photos twice 'life' size. A little clean up to do, but for 45 minutes work?

Can you guess when I am going to inflict these on on my local players?

More to come.
 

 

 

Off the painting Queue

 A few mounted officers and aides. I need to do a few steps in basing on all of hem, but they are far enough along to show:

First up, two Danish Light Dragoons seen circa 1812

A British officer from one of the packs in the Perry range, I think from Spanish campaign.

 

From the Danish range, General Ewald, commander of the light troops for the Danish Army. ( Yes, the same guy as in the AWI Hessian contingent.)  His horse will be black when finished...as will his tack, but that will be brown.

They will be in the scenes fom one of the upcoming bridge battles. 

More later.

9 September , return to the North German Plains

 Well, it took awhile, but we came back to the GHQ Micro Armor Modern rules and the set in 1977 North German Plains scenario. 

 https://pancerni-fishtales.blogspot.com/search/label/Cold%20War

 It had been awhile since we last used the rules, but 90% of the mechanics came back with a little pregame discussion.  Roger and Greg reprise the roles of BAOR and FRG commanders respectively; I commanded both WP formations, which is not as taxing as it sounds.

Of course if we played,  there must be photos:

Warsaw Pact staging area.

 

BAOR positions & WP recon elements.

 

FRG positions and WP recon.

Due to time constraints, we called it at end of the fifth turn....the scenario allows 15!  The WP reco and first wave tank companies took a lot of damage, but had caused both defending units some casualties and a threat to both had a fall back order issued . The post mortem?

We need more time than our regular sessions to play the game. We are negotiating what upcoming day would work.  We set up and then played 5 turns in maybe two and a half hours.

A couple more outings should get us more comfortable with the rules.  The NATO players are reconsidering  their deployment options as they gain experience with the rules.

First turn WP artillery delivers smoke.

First tank company closes in on BAOR position in forward farm. Some damage to recon and one tank platoon shown by beads as markers.

FRG likewise metes out punishment .

WP artillery zeroes in on targets in farm in BAOR zone.

The scenario is one with a lot of 'play ability,' and should be easy to modify...use US or other forces, introduce helicopters, more air or artillery support.

The difference in scope of the rules from say, 7 Days to the River Rhine,  shows in the play of the first few games.

More later, I guess.